Minnesota continues to be linked with offensive linemen in this draft, as free-agent signing Kirk Cousins was under heavy pressure in 2018 behind a makeshift line. The team could address the position in free agency and still have a need. Williams, who made 43 straight starts at tackle for the Crimson Tide, could move inside to guard. At 6-foot-5, 301 pounds, he doesn't have the long arms that NFL teams like for their left tackles, but he could be an elite guard.

With the top three offensive linemen off the board — reaching for Ole Miss' Greg Little is a possibility but doubtful — Minnesota turns to defensive end here and grabs Sweat. Even though the Vikings have Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen (who is 31) off the edge, you can never have enough pass-rushers. Sweat impressed at the Senior Bowl and has some great takeoff quickness.

The Vikings paid Kirk Cousins a ton of money last offseason to elevate their offense, but a porous O-line never really gave him a chance. Fixing the unit up front will go a long way to getting this offense back on track.

The Minnesota Vikings offensive line requires an infusion of attitude and toughness.

“You can look at a lot of the statistics. But I think, quite honestly, this football team, in the four years that I'd been here, had that nasty, ‘We’re-going-to-win-no-matter-what-the-situation-is mentality,’ ” head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters after the Vikings’ 8-7-1 campaign came to an end. "I don't know that we had it this year.”

Zimmer wants a physical team. He didn’t get that last season from the offense. Play-calling became part of the reason behind the change. Inconsistent play from the offensive front didn’t help.

Guard, in particular, is an issue since Nick Easton and Tom Compton are free agents.

Kansas State's Dalton Risner started three years at right tackle after playing center as a freshman. Risner dominated. According to Pro Football Focus, the 6'5", 300-pound blocker finished second in overall grade among offensive tackles last season.

Risner is hard to beat in pass protection, but his nasty disposition in the running game is what the Vikings need. The team can slide him inside to guard to build a strong left side with tackle Riley Reiff and center Pat Elflein.

The Vikings most significant problem has been its offensive line for the last couple of years, and Risner makes too much sense here. Maybe he sticks at tackle in the NFL, or perhaps he has to move inside. Either way, the Vikings can use him.

It's an offensive line run in the middle of the first round. There could be as many as seven O-linemen taken in the first round, as a surprisingly deep class meets a clear need around the league. Ford's best fit might be at guard, but whether he plays inside or at right tackle, he'll be a much needed reinforcement for Minnesota.

It's hard to give the Vikings anything other than an offensive lineman in the first round. Risner can literally play anywhere up front for Minnesota, and he'd arguably be an upgrade to the player currently in that spot.

Kirk Cousins was heavily criticized last season. Some of it was deserved while a lot of it had to do with the porous offensive line in front of him. Taylor is a monster in the run game, a surprisingly nuanced pass protector, and a player who can move into the starting lineup from Day 1.

This team has some dangerous offensive weapons and a capable quarterback, but the protection has to improve across the board. Risner’s experience and polish should make him an instant-impact player at the next level, and his versatility would make him an upgrade at multiple spots.